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School teacher

Finland Alone in Laying Off Teachers

Finland is the only EU country that has resorted to temporarily laying off teachers due to the economic downturn, according to the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE). Education leaders in the EU have sharply criticised Finland’s decision to furlough teachers this year.

Ala-asteikäisiä oppilaita kävelee koulun portaita alaspäin.
Image: YLE

This year over 6,000 teachers were furloughed in Finland. Some 80,000 pupils were affected by the layoffs.

The ETUCE is calling on Finnish authorities to change legislation to prevent teachers from being furloughed in the future.

The committee adds that investing in education is an investment in the future. The ETUCE says the decision to furlough Finland’s educators is contradictory to the EU’s aim of focusing on education.

Sources: YLE